The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-03-31
The Tide Turning.

Ihe TlQ6 turning.
For years and years this paper has con-
tended that, all things considered. no Sec
tion of the Union equaled Virginia in the
advantages offered for the profitable in
vestment of capital. With a climate I'M
surpassed; with splendid water power
emptying into one of the finest harbors OF
the world; with timber abundant and Of
the most desirable varieties; with noun
tains of the best ore and coal lying side by
side, and jutting against exhanstless de-
posits of limestone; with the more pre-
cious metals cropping out here and there
under favorable conditions, inviting a
thorough investigation with every promise
of itch reward with an intelligent and
settled population, cheap and excellent la
Dor, ample agricultural products, and
all in close proximity to the market CEN
tres of the new world aud accessible to
the lines of expectation, it seems strange
indeed that such inducements should have
been passed by with Indifference, and the
old State remain to-day practically an
unknown land. Capital in search OF EN-;
ployment has traversed her territory to
find its location in the midst of uDpTo-
pitious surroundings her own sons have
turned their faces to another land and left
the treasure they would have for an
inheritance of strangers. The vast stores
that nature has locked within her border S
slumber as they have slumbered for cen
turtles, and the tide of migration and en-
terprise has found no Judgment where
every promise of profit beckoned to real
ization. Alabama, Tennessee and the two
Carolinas have shared in the general
Southern movement, and upon their waste
places cities hayesprung up, industries have
multiplied, and thrift and plenty diffused
their benefits to all classes. And yet
Virginia, with more of Gods gifts than
all of her sisters combined, has Jagged in
active on the stage, her lands unoccupied,
her grand opportunities unavalled of. But
he day of her deliyerance is not far dis
tant. She has been slow to ATTRACT, but
the magnet is deep set and permanent
When the solid. substantial advantages
she offers are appreciated and their value
compared with that of other Southern
sections, there will be no question as to
her future That she will be the iron
centre of the South, if not the nation,
can scarcely be doubted. To natu-
raj wealth superior to that CT Alabama,
she adds, as stated, climate with which
the miasma ladened atmosphere of fiat,
marshy region cannot compare ; a labor
adapted to manufacturing soil that
yields prolihcally every product for the
use Of man and il addition to all Of these
a location that gives advantage which in
its itself would turn the scale in her ia.
vor. These facts are beginning to be
recognized and ere another decade the
fruits of that recognition will be seen on
every side. Recently forcible illustra-
ton OF the point we have endeavored to
present was given. A syndicate of Phil
adelphia capitalists. desiring to invest in
| the South, sent out a representative to
explore the whole Southern field and make
| report. One of the most experienced bust
ness men Of the Quaker city was selected to
make the examine ton. He visited Ala
| bama, Tennessee, and other Southern
States, including Virginia. With neither
prejudice nor partially, he carefully in
quired into the merits Of each section
and finally reached his conclusion from
| practical, business standpoint. AS re
suit of that conclusion the syndicate pur-
| chased 5000 acres of iron lands and
| 40 900 acres of coal lands in the Clinch
Valley of Southwestern Virginia, locat-
ing the purchase with special reference
to easy and cheap Development. At an ear
| ly day furnase with q capacity OF from
200 to 800 tons per day will be planted upon
this land, and it is estimated that the cost
Of manufacture of ton Of pig iron will
not be oyer $40. On the coal lands pur-
chased are about thirty feet Of work
able veins above the water level. The
coal is similar in quality to the now ia
| m JUS Pocahontas output, which as COX
ing coal stands unsurpassed. In speaking
of the reasons that Jed him to select this
as the best location for an iron plant, the
representative of the syndicate said 1.-The
result has been to settle in our minds, tax
ing into consideration the three questions.
cost OF manufacture, quality OF product
distance from MARKET ii. e. freight to be
paid) that Virginia possesses greater ad-
want ages than either OF the other regions
| for present investment of capital"
Such testimony is worth thousand
highly colored descriptive pamphlets and
its fruits will not be long in ripening.